Renewable fuse



Sept. 10, 1929. c. J. HYEATHERINGTON ET AL RENEWABLE FUS E 'Filed May 25. 1927 12:5; INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

CHARLES J'. I-IEATHERINGTON, OF MCKEESPORT, AND OWEN F. COLLINS,

OF D'LTQUESNE,

PENNSYLVANIA.

RENEW-ABLE FUSE.

This invention relates to protective devices for use in connection with electrical apparatus, particularly to fuses, and has for its general object the provision of a novel reneW- able fuse embodying various details of construction which will constitute a manifest improvement in the art.

An important object of the invention is to provide a fuse having novel means whereby the terminal elements are held not only in assembled relation to the casing, but also in proper operative relation to the fusible strip which constitutes the protecting means for thecircuit in which the fuse is employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuse so constructed that the parts thereof may be very quickly and easily disassembled so that a new fuse strip may be inserted after the original one has blown the device being consequently very economical as there is no necessity for discarding it as the result of blowing, it being clear that the fusible strip element itself may be replaced at very slight cost.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fuse of this character which is so constructed and arranged as to be used in connection with holders of a conventional type or pattern, it being entirely unnecessary to provide any special equipment to permit use of the 1H1pI'0V6Cl fuse.

An additional object is to provide a fuse device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to as semble or disassemble, positive in action, efiicient in service in addition to being a general improvement as above mentioned.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete device showing it in assembled form.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail cross sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Serial No. 193,826.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the terminal elements.

Figure 5 is adetail perspective "iew of the shell member or casing alone.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, we have shown the device as comprising an elongated preferably cylindrical casing 10 of suitable size and constructed of some suitable insulating material. Both ends of this casing are open and carry metal caps 11 telesroped thereonto, each cap being formed with diametrically extending slots 12 and being provided with diametrically opposite radially extending screws 13 which extend into the slot.

Located within each end of the casing is a terminal member designated as a whole by the numeral 14- and formed of counter-part members 15 which are of substantially L- shape and which include enlarged head portions 16 having their ends engaged within transverse slots 10 in the casing and elongated relatively thin shank portions 17 of strip-like form extending through the slot 12 in the cap. At one side the casing is formed with longitudinal slots 10 leading from the ends to the slots 10. Disposed between the pairs of counterpart members 15 is a. strip 18 of some readily fusible metal, the nature and the thickness thereof depending upon the amperage of the current to be carried safely in the system in which the fuse is used. The above described screws 13 bear against the pairs of members 15 and not only hold them in clamping relation to the fusible strip 18 but also act to hold the terminal members against displacement with respect to the cap. The projecting end portions of the terminal members 14 are of course adapted to be engaged within the usual contacts or holders provided for the fuse as is well understood in the installation of such devices in electric systems.

In assembling the parts, the members 15 necessarily have their heads 16 inserted first and this is readily accomplished owing to the fact that they may be canted as they are inserted, the slots 1O permitting the edges of the thin portions 17 to project beyond one side of the casing until the heads 16 engage within the slots 10.

The device of course operates in identically the same manner as any other fuse but it will be observed that when the fusible strip 18 is blown out, as may occur in service, the screws 13 may be loosened, the cap 11 Withdrawn from the casing, the burned out fuse strip removed and replaced by a new one, and the parts then just as readily reassembled so that the device will be entirely as good as new. Obviously, the only loss when blowing out occurs is the cost of the fuse strip itself, the remainder of the device remaining in perfect condition ready for subsequentuse. It is really believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

lVhile we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be undestood that the disclosure is merely illustrative as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A fuse of the character described com prising a cylinder of insulating material, a cap telescopically engaged with each end thereof, each cap having a diametrical slot therein, oppositely arranged screws threaded through each cap and extending into the slot therein, terminal members located within the ends of the tubular casing or cylinder and each formed of counter-part sections of substantially L-shape having head portions located within the cylinder and having elongated shank portions extending through the slots, and a fusible strip arranged between and clamped by said counter-part sections of the terminal members.

2. A fuse of the character described comprising a cylinder of insulating material, a cap telescopically engaged with each end thereof, each cap having a diametrical slot therein, oppositely arranged screws threaded through each cap and extending into the slot therein, terminal members located within the ones of the tubular casing or cylinder and each formed of counter-part sections of substantially L-shape having head portions located within the cylinder and having elongated shank portions extending through the slots, and a fusible strip arranged between and clamped by said counter-part sections of the terminal members, the shank portions of said terminal members projecting beyond the cap for engagement with the contacts of a fuse holder.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

CHARLES J. I-IEATl-IERINGTON OWEN F. COLLINS, 

